Loveland schoolteacher charged with sex crimes on student

A warrant has been issued for Gawain Jay Roberts but he has yet to be arrested

By Pamela Dickman

Posted:
11/09/2012 04:19:12 PM MST

A former Thompson School District teacher is accused of sex crimes against a student, and Loveland police believe there may be additional victims.

Gawain Jay Roberts, 35, is charged in 8th Judicial District Court with sexual exploitation of a child and attempted sexual assault by someone in a position of trust.

The Fort Collins man was teaching the SOARS program, which is based at Ferguson High School in Loveland. One of his students, a 16-year-old girl, reportedly told school administrators that her teacher had taken inappropriate pictures of her, according to police.

With a search warrant, police seized Roberts' computers and cellphone and found images of multiple females believed to be younger than 18, Detective Brian Koopman said.

The teenager reported the incident to school officials in mid-October, and they called Loveland Police, who began an investigation. Roberts immediately quit his job.

"He resigned before we had the opportunity to put him on leave," Wes Fothergill, spokesman for the school district, said.

Roberts was hired by the district in 2006 after passing a background check. He taught at Bill Reed Middle School his first year then transferred to the SOARS program, Secondary Options for Achieving Results in Success. The alternative education program caters to juniors and seniors who were not successful in a traditional school setting.

The program was based at the school district headquarters before moving to Ferguson High School last year.

Because of the multiple images found, police and school officials believe there may be other victims and are asking anyone with information to call Koopman at 962-2248 or Detective Jeff Pyle at 962-2274.

A warrant has been issued for Roberts, but he has not yet been arrested.